SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town is holding a resource fair for the disabled community.
According to city officials, Friday, July 26, marked the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Southampton's disability task force, which was set up by a resolution from Councilor Michael Iasilli, will host the resource fair, the city's first, on November 2 at 12pm. at the Hampton Bays Senior Center, along with the Southampton School District.
The event will help provide information on a range of support services for individuals and families with special needs, officials said.
“Despite the protections afforded by the ADA, many in our communities still face challenges, such as existing financial and knowledge gaps that prevent qualified individuals from accessing critical services,” city officials said.
According to the US Census, 41 million people have some kind of disability. Additionally, the median annual income of people with disabilities is about $25,000, according to census statistics.
The event will help provide options to guide families and individuals seeking access to accommodation and support, both financially and socially.
“This is a great step to help close the gaps,” Iasilli said. “We recently published a helpful disability resource guide that lists a variety of services for the disability community. This event will help cover additional areas of support that can benefit families and individuals navigating the complex field of disability services.”
Iasilli added that he wanted to thank the city's ADA coordinator Sean Cambridge and community organization specialist Jamie Bowden, “for their efforts in organizing this critically important event.”
